English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 4:5
5The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
Ecclesiastes 4:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
- New International Version (NIV)Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.”
Context of Ecclesiastes 4:5
3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. 4Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. 6Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. 7Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
Read all of Ecclesiastes 4Ecclesiastes 4:5 word by word
הַכְּסִיל֙ חֹבֵ֣ק אֶת־יָדָ֔יו וְאֹכֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּשָׂרֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 4:5
- Proverbs 6:10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
- Proverbs 12:27Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
- Proverbs 13:4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- Proverbs 20:4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
- Proverbs 24:33A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
- Job 13:14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?
- Proverbs 11:17A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
- Isaiah 9:20They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm,
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The fool foldeth his hands - After all, without labor and industry no man can get any comfort in life; and he who gives way to idleness is the veriest of fools.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Foldeth his hands - The envious man is here exhibited in the attitude of the sluggard (marginal references). Eateth his own flesh - i. e., “Destroys himself:” compare a similar expression in Isaiah 49:26; Psalm 27:2; Micah 3:3.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose efforts are crowned with success. They often become great and prosperous, but this excites envy and opposition. Others, seeing the vexations of an active course, foolishly expect more satisfaction in sloth and idleness. But idleness is a sin that is its own punishment. Let us by honest industry lay hold on the handful, that we…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-6Fools do not try to succeed and end up poor. Others work frantically, using all their time and effort, to chase temporary wealth they will not have time to enjoy (compare Proverbs 23:4–5). Wise people practice moderation and contentment (tranquility).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Still the fool (the wicked oppressor) is not to be envied even in this life, who "folds his hands together" in idleness (Pr 6:10; 24:33), living on the means he wrongfully wrests from others; for such a one eateth his own flesh--that is, is a self-tormentor, never satisfied, his spirit preying on itself (Is 9:20; 49:26).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 4:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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